Signaling means.



133:13?ZI'OJNT H. WORKMAN, 0F SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR. 0F ONE-THIRD T0 CORNELIOUS M. STEELE AND ONE-THIRD TO H'IPOLITO SEP'ULVEDA, BOTH 0F SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA.

SIGNALING, MEANS.

Patented June 11, 1918.

Applicationliccmberl, 1916. Serial No. 136,741.

To all 'whom t may concern.' y ya lBe it known that I, Barron MAN, a citizenof the United States,`res1d ing at Santa Ana, in the C untyfff Orange and Stateof California, have .invented certain nevi7 and useful Improvements in S1 g naling Means, of which the 'ollowmgis a specification.

`This invention relates to signaling means, andmore particularly to electrp-magnetically operated signaling vmeans adapted to be yattached to the rear `of an automobile body or similar `vehicle for the v.purpose of Azo indicating when the vehicle is about to makey a. turn, andthe direction of 'the .contend platedturn, or4V when '.the'vehicle v1s about to y One oi''tlie main-objects of theinvention -is to providesignahng means ofthe character stated of comparatively simple construction and operation which Will be moved zin the direction of the contemplated turn,A ol may be oscillated in the manner of a Wig-Wag signal to indicate that the vehicle is about to be stopped. 1A further object is to provide signaling means which may be quickly and easily connected to thebatteryor generatorof an automobile so as to beenergized therefrom. Another object is jte-.provide means for normally locking the signal' in inoperative position, in combination` with means for illuminating an indicating light and for-simultaneously moving the locking means into inoperative position. rFurther objects Will appear from the detailedvdescript'ion,

.In the' dravvingsz' Figurel is a front vie7 of a signaling ap-' I paratus constructedin accordance with my invention.

line 3-'3 of Fig. 1. v 45. the, connections for the electro-magnets and fFig. 4 is a diagrammatic View showing theY light circuits.

Fig. 5 vis ai`diagrammatic view of the light l 'circuits'and the connections for the same.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the means for Il. :WORK-A locking the signal-arm supporting shaft against rotation.

The numeral 1 designates a cylindrical sheet metal casing provided with radially extending tabs 2 for attachmentto the body of an automobile or similar vehicle. A disk 3 of fiber, or other suitable material which lis an electrical insulator, is secured in the i11- ner end of casing 1. This disk is provided With a central recess which rotatably receives the inner end of a tubular supporting'- -shaft 4 the outer end portion of which is rotatablymounted through a brass bearingsleeve 5 secured through the outer end la of casing -1 in alinement and concentric with. the'recess in disk 3. A collar 6 is secured on shaft 4, adjacent bearing sleeve 5, and is .provided with an integral radially extending arm 7. This arm is adapted to fit into a recess 8a of a securing head 8 formed integral with a leaf spring 9, the outer end of which is turned down and secured to the side Wall of casing 1, as at 10. The head acts to normally lock shaft 4 against rotation lthus securing the signal in inoperative position.'l As will be noted from Fig. 6 of the drawings the head 8 is inclined upwardly from each end toward the recess 8a so as to permit the arm 7 to pass readily above the same for engagement into the recess.

A T 11 is secured on the outer end of shaft 4. A signaling arm, composed of the tubular rods 12 and 13 threaded into the arms of the head of T 11, is secured in this T. A lightsockct 14 is secured on the outer end of rod 12. The negative side of this contact disk 16 secured on shaft 4 a short distance above the base disk 3. The contact disk 16 is formed of a plurality of alternately arranged concentric rings a, b, c, and al', and/'6, f, g, 7L, and i, of copper and rubber, or other suitable electrical insulating material.

The Wire 15 is, of course, provided with ay suitable insulating covering and is ,mounted inside of the rod 12 and shaft y4, a suitable opening being provided through the shaft vso as to permit connecting of the Wire to contact ring `7). The innermost ring of insulating material serves to effectually insulate the contact disk from the shaft 4.- The second contact ring Z) of disk 16 is also connected by a lead 17 to a resilient downwardly directed and arched contact tongue iti carried lby a collar 19 s ecured on shaft 4. The outer end of this tongue extends over an arcuate contact bar 2O ot' copper provided, at each end, with an integral arm 21 and ear 22 for attachment to disk 3. This bar is of undulating configuration, having the upwardly arching end portions 20a and 20", and the intermecliate downwardly arched portion or recess 20.v W'hen shaft 4 is in normal posi.- tion,` tongue 18 extends v9above recess 2Oc of contact bar 20, the tongue being so disposed as to normally be out of contact with the bar.

The positive side of socket 14 is connected by a wire 24 to copper rings c of contact disk 16. A spring contact 25 engages ring c-and is connected by a wire 26 to a suitable switch for connecting the contact to the positive side of the electric batter 23, or other suitable source of supply oi electrical energy. r1`he contact bar 2O is grounded, in a n'ianner to be hereinafter described, to the vehicle iframe. By this means when the shaft 4 is oscillated in either direction about its axis of rotation, the indicating light 27 mounted in socket .14 will be illuminated, the negative side oit' battery 23 being grounded also a shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

A socket 29 similar to socket 14 is mounted on the outer end 'of tubular rod 13, and a light 29 is mounted in this socket. The negative side of socket 28 is connected by a` wire 30 to contact ring ct of disk 16, which is engaged by a spring contact 31 connected by lead to contact bar 2G, so to ground the negative side of the socket. The positive side oit socket 28 is connected by wire in series with the lights 34 and Vi'vire 33 is connected to the .innermost copper Contact ring CZ oi disk 16, which is engaged by a spring contact 36 connected to contact 25 by a common base so as to be connected to the positive side of battery 23 through wire 26. By this arrangement, when the circuit of battery 23 is closed, the light 29 and lights 84 and 35 will be illuminated in a manner to bc later described..

A sheet metal strip 37 is mounted above and parallel with the signaling arm. To one end of this strip secured a casing` or hood 38 which incl ases the light 2i). A. plate 39 shaped to represent the feathered portion or base of an arrow is secured over the front of hood 38 and :is provided with an opening in vtrent of which is mountedva green lens 40. A similar hood 41` issecured to the other end of the strip about indicating light 27 and is provided with a plate shaped to represent recense an arrow point. Plate 42 is provided with an opening in front of which is mounted a red lens 43. Normally, only the light 29 will be illuminated, so as to display the green or caution signal. Vhen it is desired to make a turn or to stop, the indicating light 27 will be illuminated to display the red or danger signal. rlhis illumination of the indicating light is,accomplished by oscillating shaft 4 in either direction about its axis of rotation so as to bring tongue 18 into contact with one of the upwardly arched end yportions of the Contact bar 2O thus connecting the negative side of socket 14 to the negative side of battery 23 and completing the circuit through the light.

An electro-magnet 44 is secured to base 3 by means of a band 45 passed about the same and provided with securing tabs, al

suitable insulating ring 46 being interposed between this band and the coil of the niagnet. @ne end of the coil of this magnet is connected to a binding post 47 which is connected by wire 48 to the Contact 49 of a multiple point switch 50. The other end of the coil of magnet 44 is connected by lead 51 to the contact bar 20. @ne end of bar 20 is connected by lead 52 to band 45 which is connected by lead 53 to a binding` post 54 which is grounded by a wire 55 to the vehicle frame. An electro-magnet 56 is secured to base 3, by means of a band 57, the two niagnets being positioned to each side of, and equi-distant from the shaft 4. @ne end of the coil of magnet 56 is connected to a binding post 58 which is connected by wire 59 to contact 60 of switch 50. rihe other end ci" the coil et this magnet is connected by a lead 61 to the contact bar 20. By this means, 'the two magnets 4i and 56, and the lights 27, and 29, 34, and 35, are all grounded through the contact bar 20 by means of lead 52, band Q 45, lead 53, and wire 55.

An armature 62 of laminated construction is secured on shaft 4 above the Contact disk 16, This armature extends radially from the shaft and is normally positioned midway between the poles of the magnets 44 and 56. Ey energizing one or the other of these .magnets the armature 62 will be attracted toward the energized magnet so as to oscillatc shaft 4 in that direction and move the tongue 18 into contact with the contact bar facev of spring 9 adjacent the inner end thereof. Thisvmagnet is secured in proper position by a. U bracket 65 placed about the.

of which is connected to a'wire6'9 the opposite ends of which".'are connectedl to two spaced contacts 70 secured on lthe base 50a Qi switch 50. The other end of the coil of magnet 63 is connected by va lead 71 to the' contact bar'20. The switch 50 is provided with a rotatable handle'. 72 which is connectedy by a lead 73 to the ositive 'sideof battery 23. The 'contactstrips 70, and con- .tacts 49 and 60, are positioned equi-distant vfrom the transverse center ,'501- and contacts 49 and 60 are inradial .'alinement with the outer' end portions of strips 70 relative to the'pivotaly oint, or axis of vswitch -base of rotation, of-the switch han le. By this means, when the switch handle i'smoved toward the left, as considered fromv Fig. 4- of the drawings, it will first engage'contact 70 so as to close the circuit from the positive sidevof the battery through wire 68 and lead 66 to the electro-magnet 63. The current will flow through coil of magnet 63, lead 71,

contact bar 20, lead 52, band 45, lead 53, and Y wire 55 to ground and thence to the negative side of the battery. This will result in energizing the magnet 63 so as to cause it to attract its armature 64 thus-releasing arm 7 from the locking head 8 so as to permit-oscillation of shaft 4 about its axis of rotation.

The current will divide, and aportion ofthis current will flow from wire' 6 8 through the wire 26, spring contact 36, wire 33, lights 34 and 35, light 29, wire 30 "to, contact ring a, spring Contact 31, lead. v,32j-,fbar 20, to ground and back to the negative'fside 'of the battery. As the movementothandle 72 of the switch toward the left is coilitinued, the handle will engage contact 49;'QVA current will flow from the positive side of battery 23 through wire 48, the coil of magnet 44, lead 51, and then to ground and thefnegative side of the battery so as to energize magnet 44.l

When this magnet is energized it will attract the armature 62 so as to swing thc shaft 4 toward the left, as considered from Fig. 2 of the drawings, 'thus bringing tongue 18 into engagement with the raised end portion 20b of contact bar 20 so as to close the circuit of the indicating light 27. As will be clear from Fig. 4 ofthe drawings, the' arrow or signal arm is swung inthe same' direction as handle 72 of switch 5 0 so that in order to give the proper signal, it is only necessary to swing'the switch handle in the direction in which it is desired to turn. But very slight movement of the shaft 4 is necessary to bring tongue 18 into contact with row vin either direction.

bar 20 so that the tongue will be in sliding engagement with the bar during'the greater part of its lateralmovement. By this means, after the indicating light is illuminated, it continues to move in the' direction in which the turn is to be made thus serving as a clear visual signal to persons in back'of the vehicle indicating clearly in which direction the turn is to bemade. If it is desired to turn to the right, the switch handle 72 will be swung toward the right 'as considered in Fig; 4 of the drawing so as to vfirst engage the right hand contact 70 so as to release the. shaft for rotation. As the movement of the handle is continued it will engage contact 'so that a current will flow through wire 59, the coil of magnet 56, lead 61, and ccntact bar 20 tov ground and thence to the negae tive side of the'battery 23. When the switclh,

h-andle is moved into this position the magnet 56 will be energized so as to swing the signal arm toward the right and illuminatel the indicatin light in the manner previously described. Wh handle 72 of switch 50 is first moved'from one side then to the other so as to close the .circuits of electro-magnets 44 and 56, alternately, thus imparting oscillatory movement tothe indicating light in opposite directions the li ht acting as a wig-Wag signal to warn persos .in back of the vehicle that the driver is about to stop the same.

As previously stated, when switch handle 72 is'moved into engagement with either one of the contact strips 7 0, the circuit of the lights 34 and -35, and light 29, is closed so as be considered as auxiliary head and tail lights whichserve as means .for giving a visual signal preliminary to the operation of the main signaling means. By-'continuing movement vof the switch handle into engageen it isv desired t0 stop, theA to illuminate thel same. fThese lights may ment with either of the contacts 49 or 60,v

the main signal will be operated in the manner previously described. Whenthe lights 34 and 35, and light 29, are illuminated electromagnet 63 will be energized so as`4 to release shaft 4 for rotation. yDuring the pe- -riodelapsing between the movement of the switch handle into engagement with one of the contact strips 70, and the movement of this handle into full operative position, this resilient contact 18 will serve in combination with the undulating contact bar 20 as means.l

for preventing-excessive swinging ofthe arp When the switch handle has 'been' moved into its extreme position so as to engage either of the contactsv 49 or 60, this finger will engage the bar` so as to provide a braking device for prevent ing eXce'sslve jarring or jolting of the signaling arm due to its being suddenly 'moved laterally when one of the electro-magnets for operating the same is energized. The outer rectioni audible signal to indicate to the driver ci.

lili

` .l buzzer-,'74 is interposed in. the @fl which connects the positive Side of the socket of the indicating light 27 to the positive eide of the battery This himmel' serves i the vehicle 'Whether or not the magnet being energized so as to operate the signal arm.` @n the otherhand, the head lights andv which are connected in shunt with the circuit ci magnet 63 serve as a visual signal or indicator to showy Whether or Anot current is Hon/ing to this magnet. i

By my invention l provide a signaling' means having an indicating arm provided. at one end With an indicating light and at the other end with a tail light, in combination with simple and efficient means for oscillating the arno in either direction about its axis of rotation and for simultaneousl; illuminating the vindicatinb light. This Signaling means is normally mounted on the back of ayehicle with the arrmvdisn posed in vertical position, in which posi tion it'ielnormally held locked by' the head 8 and arm 7, as previously described.; This lock is moved into inoperative position previous to the oscillation of the signaling arm or arrow, this' movement of the lock being controlled by the same means for xcontrolling the moil'ement of the arm. A

lt will be evident that there may be slight changes made in the constructionland arrangement of the diferent parts of my in vention Without depart-ing from' the' iield and scope of the same, and l intend tol iiiclude all such changes, as fall Within the scope of the appended claims, in this applicati'on in which a preferred form only' of my invention is disclosed. t

llhat l claim is: I

l. signaling means, a rotatable shalt, a signaling arm secured thereon and prcvided with alight at each end, means normally loclringthe Shaft against rotation, a source of supply of electrical energy, elec tro-magnets positioned at each. side of said shaft equi-distant therei'rom,an armature secured to said shaft and extending' radially from the same midway between the poles of said magnets, means for connecting. one of said lights to said source of supply of' electrical energy and for Simultaneously rcleasing` said shaft, means for connecting the other light to the said sonrceof supply of electrical energy When the shaft iS oscillated, Said means also serving as a braking dc`v2e to rotar( t, means for conoci' ii electro- Dnete'to said so of elccsliat carried thereoi,

-easahly locking Said eh it non., an electric light carried means interposed in the ein for closing said circuit cir nitgclcsing` means also servingr to provide braking means for retarding movement of shaft i lr., signaling means, a casing, a shaft 'rotatable therein a ei *noline* arm. carried by said shaft at theouter thereojl, means for releasably locking said shaft against rotation, an electric light carried by said at one end thereof, means for rocking the shaft ineither direction, and circuit clceg ing 'means interposed in the circuit or' said light for closing said circuit when the shaft L is rocked in eitherr direction, said circuit closing ineens also servingto provide brain ing tor retaining movement of Said shaft, said braking meene being adapted to present uniformly increasini-i,1 retardation to a 1r i at one end thereof, shait in either direction, and

e rocket?. in eitherdirection,

the movement ci said shaft when the shaft v is rocked ineither direction Ll. ln signaling meane, a casing, a shaft rotatable therein, signaling armvcarriefl by said eli: at the outer 'end thereoimeane for oscillating said shaft, an electric light carried by Said arm, a contact mounted Within said caaing, contact finger carried by the eliatt connected to one pole oi? said lanij said finger bei normally out contact with the adapted to gage the enel portion thereof when moved in either directigfnir eo ae to retard rotation of the slr" 1, i-

ln lei; ialinzg means, a casing, 'a ehait :I

rotatably mounted therein, a arm carried by sind shaft, electric lamp car ried. said arm, means; for rocking the of aft in. either- `Erection, a contact har moneted thin the casing and provided delire-eslora and a resilient Lillav trically insulating therefrom, said bar being depressed portion of said bar. of undulating configuration and vhaving a In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature roction, a Contact bar mounted Within the and the outer portion oi said linger' beingilo casing concentric with said shaft and elecnormally spaced a short distance above the central depression and a raised portion at. in presence of tWo Witnesses. y

each end contiguous therewith, and a re- PEYTON H. WORKMN. silient Contact :linger secured on said shaft Vitnesses: and extending radially therefrom, said in- CORNELIOUS M. STEELE,

ger being connected to one pole of the lamp HiPoLrro P. SEPULVEDA. 

